NASS Survey Training
NASS Survey Training AGRICULTURAL SURVEY – March 1, 2018 (CROPS APS)
United States Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service NOD-Training Group February 2018
1
March Agricultural Survey • The survey is used to determine what is and what will be planted. • The March Agricultural Survey release is the Prospective Plantings report. – In some southern states planting may have started – Many parts of the country will still be too cold, too wet or possibly even snow covered – Operators may be reluctant to respond because they are still unsure of what they will plant. We need to urge them to make their best estimate as to what they will plant (or intend to plant) as of March 1.
March Agricultural Survey • The survey is also used to determine what types of grain and how much is stored • Another release that come form The March Agricultural Survey is the Grain Stocks report – Grain storage capacity, types of grain stored, and amount of grain stored on the operation is asked to help determine nationwide grain supplies
March Agricultural Survey Overview • Producers use the information to make critical decisions for their operations and finalize their cropping and marketing plans. • Commodity markets rely on the Prospective Plantings report for early information on the year’s growing season and to establish futures and commodity prices worldwide. • The agriculture industry uses the information to evaluate export potential and international customers look to the data for assurance that the United States will continue to be a reliable supplier of major commodities. • Universities, extension agents, private and government economists, the farm media and others use the data to identify and analyze emerging issues and trends
General Survey Information • Project Code: 122 - March Crops/Stocks Survey • Questionnaires: – Mailed out February 16 – Web reporting option (EDR) available
• Releases: – March 29, 12PM (Eastern) • Prospective Plantings • Grain Stocks
Additional Survey Information: Interviewer’s Manual • Chapter 8 – Completing the interview: screening questions; operation description; changes in operator
• Chapter 9 – Acres operated; types of land (include/exclude); recording rules for crops; specific crop details
• Chapter 10 – Grain and oilseeds in storage
• Chapter 18 – Previously reported data – How to handle changes: screening questions; operation description; changes in operator
Introduction • Questions used to determine: – Whether the operation is still in business – If the operation has any of the items of interest • Crops, cropland, stocks, storage capacity, etc
– Name and address verification • Make updates & leave notes as necessary
– Operation structure • Individual • Partners • Hired Manager
Section 1-Acres Operated • Asks about: – Acres owned – Acres rented from others or used rent free (+) – Acres rented to others (-)
• Total Acres – The math must work!! – Acres Owned plus Acres Rented from Others minus Acres Rented to Others must equal Total Acres
• Acres considered cropland – Look at page 905 of your Interviewer’s Manual if you have any questions about what is considered cropland
Specific Item Information • For most states you will be asking about the following commodities: Small Grains – Wheat • Winter wheat, spring wheat, durum wheat (varies by state) • Both planted & harvested in many cases
– Barley – Oats
Specific Item Information (2) Row Crops – Corn for all purposes – Sorghum – Sudan – Soybeans – Dry Edible Beans – Dry Edible Peas – Upland Cotton – Pima Cotton – Peanuts
– Canola – Flaxseed – Sweet Potatoes – Potatoes – Tobacco – Sunflowers – Rice – Lentils
All Dry Hay
Section 2-Crops • Typically the first commodity asked will be winter wheat: – Acres planted for all purposes • Includes to be harvested for grain or seed, cover crop, nurse crop, grazed off, cut for hay/haylage, or abandoned
– Acres to be harvested for grain or seed – Winter wheat is not asked in the New England States.
Section 2-Crops, cont. • Other small grain questions – Acres planted for oats and barley
• Watch out for mixtures of wheat, oats, barley, and/or other grains planted on the same acreage. – Mixtures should be excluded because they would not have the possibility to be harvested as grain.
Section 2-Crops, cont. • Row crops questions – Acres planted and to be planted for all purposes – Acres harvested and to be harvested is typically not asked in March for row crops • However, it is asked for potatoes in some states like FL and CA
• Dry hay to be harvested – Acres cut and to be cut for dry hay in 2018 • Exclude acres which will only be cut for haylage • Acres should only be counted once, despite number of cuttings.
Hay Varieties • Alfalfa and Alfalfa Mixtures • Grains (Grain Hay) • Brome grass • Clover • Clover and Grass Mixtures • Red Clover and Clover Mixtures • Ryegrass • Fescue • Tall Fescue
• • • • • • • • • •
Grass Hays Timothy Lespedeza Sudan Sorghum-Sudan Crosses Millet Orchard Grass Bermuda Birds-foot Trefoil Other Tame and Wild Hays
Section 3-Storage Capacity/Crops Stored • Initial screening questions ask whether the operation had: – Storage facilities on the farm – If they had any grain or oilseeds in storage ON this operation • Include any temporary storage
• First question will ask about Storage Capacity – On this operation
• Follow-up questions asks respondent the amounts of whole grains or oilseeds in storage from any crop year. – On this operation (NOT stored at the “elevator”)
Section 3-Storage Capacity/Crops Stored • • • • •
Whole Grain Corn Soybeans Wheat – all types Barley Oats
• Sorghum Grain (Milo) • Rice – Long, medium, short grain
• Sunflowers – Oil, non-oil
Section 3-Storage Capacity/Crops Stored • NASS is having a hard time getting respondents to answer the stocks section • Be prepared for reluctant respondents and have answers ready to address any concerns. – If a respondent won’t give you the amount stored: • See if they would be willing to just tell you what commodities are on hand. • Record “Don’t know” for the commodities on hand and “Zero” for all others
• ONLY grain stored “on this operation”
Things to watch out for • Large changes in cropland acreage from previous survey • Large changes in storage capacity • Winter Wheat acreage different from previously reported. • Sum of individual acreage more than total cropland
Planting Decisions May be Impacted by: • Current drought situations • Crop prices • Potential precipitation before March 1st
Reluctant Responses • “It’s too early to tell.” or “Can’t report accurately.” – At this time we are just asking for your best estimate of expected acres to be planted. Is it more or less than last year’s crop? How many acres were planted last year?
• “I’m not telling you what or how many bushels I have in storage.” – We rely on information from farmers across the country to accurately estimate grain in storage. That in turn can help you make well-informed marketing decisions. But even if you can’t provide an amount, could you tell us what commodities you have in storage?
Things to Remember: • Be sure to leave ample notes to explain any questionable situations with the farming operation • Become familiar with the questions by going through the survey on your iPad • If concerns are expressed: – Listen, assess and address THAT concern – Have most common responses down
• Call your supervisor or Regional Field Office with any questions or concerns.
United States Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service NOD-Training Group February 2018
1
March Agricultural Survey • The survey is used to determine what is and what will be planted. • The March Agricultural Survey release is the Prospective Plantings report. – In some southern states planting may have started – Many parts of the country will still be too cold, too wet or possibly even snow covered – Operators may be reluctant to respond because they are still unsure of what they will plant. We need to urge them to make their best estimate as to what they will plant (or intend to plant) as of March 1.
March Agricultural Survey • The survey is also used to determine what types of grain and how much is stored • Another release that come form The March Agricultural Survey is the Grain Stocks report – Grain storage capacity, types of grain stored, and amount of grain stored on the operation is asked to help determine nationwide grain supplies
March Agricultural Survey Overview • Producers use the information to make critical decisions for their operations and finalize their cropping and marketing plans. • Commodity markets rely on the Prospective Plantings report for early information on the year’s growing season and to establish futures and commodity prices worldwide. • The agriculture industry uses the information to evaluate export potential and international customers look to the data for assurance that the United States will continue to be a reliable supplier of major commodities. • Universities, extension agents, private and government economists, the farm media and others use the data to identify and analyze emerging issues and trends
General Survey Information • Project Code: 122 - March Crops/Stocks Survey • Questionnaires: – Mailed out February 16 – Web reporting option (EDR) available
• Releases: – March 29, 12PM (Eastern) • Prospective Plantings • Grain Stocks
Additional Survey Information: Interviewer’s Manual • Chapter 8 – Completing the interview: screening questions; operation description; changes in operator
• Chapter 9 – Acres operated; types of land (include/exclude); recording rules for crops; specific crop details
• Chapter 10 – Grain and oilseeds in storage
• Chapter 18 – Previously reported data – How to handle changes: screening questions; operation description; changes in operator
Introduction • Questions used to determine: – Whether the operation is still in business – If the operation has any of the items of interest • Crops, cropland, stocks, storage capacity, etc
– Name and address verification • Make updates & leave notes as necessary
– Operation structure • Individual • Partners • Hired Manager
Section 1-Acres Operated • Asks about: – Acres owned – Acres rented from others or used rent free (+) – Acres rented to others (-)
• Total Acres – The math must work!! – Acres Owned plus Acres Rented from Others minus Acres Rented to Others must equal Total Acres
• Acres considered cropland – Look at page 905 of your Interviewer’s Manual if you have any questions about what is considered cropland
Specific Item Information • For most states you will be asking about the following commodities: Small Grains – Wheat • Winter wheat, spring wheat, durum wheat (varies by state) • Both planted & harvested in many cases
– Barley – Oats
Specific Item Information (2) Row Crops – Corn for all purposes – Sorghum – Sudan – Soybeans – Dry Edible Beans – Dry Edible Peas – Upland Cotton – Pima Cotton – Peanuts
– Canola – Flaxseed – Sweet Potatoes – Potatoes – Tobacco – Sunflowers – Rice – Lentils
All Dry Hay
Section 2-Crops • Typically the first commodity asked will be winter wheat: – Acres planted for all purposes • Includes to be harvested for grain or seed, cover crop, nurse crop, grazed off, cut for hay/haylage, or abandoned
– Acres to be harvested for grain or seed – Winter wheat is not asked in the New England States.
Section 2-Crops, cont. • Other small grain questions – Acres planted for oats and barley
• Watch out for mixtures of wheat, oats, barley, and/or other grains planted on the same acreage. – Mixtures should be excluded because they would not have the possibility to be harvested as grain.
Section 2-Crops, cont. • Row crops questions – Acres planted and to be planted for all purposes – Acres harvested and to be harvested is typically not asked in March for row crops • However, it is asked for potatoes in some states like FL and CA
• Dry hay to be harvested – Acres cut and to be cut for dry hay in 2018 • Exclude acres which will only be cut for haylage • Acres should only be counted once, despite number of cuttings.
Hay Varieties • Alfalfa and Alfalfa Mixtures • Grains (Grain Hay) • Brome grass • Clover • Clover and Grass Mixtures • Red Clover and Clover Mixtures • Ryegrass • Fescue • Tall Fescue
• • • • • • • • • •
Grass Hays Timothy Lespedeza Sudan Sorghum-Sudan Crosses Millet Orchard Grass Bermuda Birds-foot Trefoil Other Tame and Wild Hays
Section 3-Storage Capacity/Crops Stored • Initial screening questions ask whether the operation had: – Storage facilities on the farm – If they had any grain or oilseeds in storage ON this operation • Include any temporary storage
• First question will ask about Storage Capacity – On this operation
• Follow-up questions asks respondent the amounts of whole grains or oilseeds in storage from any crop year. – On this operation (NOT stored at the “elevator”)
Section 3-Storage Capacity/Crops Stored • • • • •
Whole Grain Corn Soybeans Wheat – all types Barley Oats
• Sorghum Grain (Milo) • Rice – Long, medium, short grain
• Sunflowers – Oil, non-oil
Section 3-Storage Capacity/Crops Stored • NASS is having a hard time getting respondents to answer the stocks section • Be prepared for reluctant respondents and have answers ready to address any concerns. – If a respondent won’t give you the amount stored: • See if they would be willing to just tell you what commodities are on hand. • Record “Don’t know” for the commodities on hand and “Zero” for all others
• ONLY grain stored “on this operation”
Things to watch out for • Large changes in cropland acreage from previous survey • Large changes in storage capacity • Winter Wheat acreage different from previously reported. • Sum of individual acreage more than total cropland
Planting Decisions May be Impacted by: • Current drought situations • Crop prices • Potential precipitation before March 1st
Reluctant Responses • “It’s too early to tell.” or “Can’t report accurately.” – At this time we are just asking for your best estimate of expected acres to be planted. Is it more or less than last year’s crop? How many acres were planted last year?
• “I’m not telling you what or how many bushels I have in storage.” – We rely on information from farmers across the country to accurately estimate grain in storage. That in turn can help you make well-informed marketing decisions. But even if you can’t provide an amount, could you tell us what commodities you have in storage?
Things to Remember: • Be sure to leave ample notes to explain any questionable situations with the farming operation • Become familiar with the questions by going through the survey on your iPad • If concerns are expressed: – Listen, assess and address THAT concern – Have most common responses down
• Call your supervisor or Regional Field Office with any questions or concerns.
